Gender in medicine: the views of first and fifth year medical students.

This study of first and fifth year medical students found a general recognition among male and female students that gender affects future career choices and the ability to reach career goals. Females were seen as being disadvantaged both in terms of career choice and their ability to achieve career goals. These views are less abstract and more based upon the reality of personal experiences in clinical attachments among fifth year students. While both male and female students describe negative experiences of clinical training, female students were more likely to suffer discrimination because of their gender in certain specialties, such as surgery, and to be dissuaded from pursuing a career in that specialty. Despite the general awareness of the effects of gender in medicine this did not appear to have an effect upon personal career choice. However, some female students were considering career choices at an early stage in their career based on accommodating their future desire to have a family life. Over half of all male and female fifth year students reported that having time for their family was an important consideration in choosing a career.